History of Greece (Fall 2000; Fall 2001; Fall 2002; Fall 2003; Fall 2006)

Comments from Fall 2006 Semester:

Great, great, great! I wish I could take it again...

Professor Cline's course was, as always, a pleasure to take. I learned a great deal about Greek history and learned it with ease because of his outstanding teaching abilities. As I have said on every one of my course evaluations for Dr. Cline (I've taken 3 classes with him), he is one of the best professors at this school.

Overall, I really enjoyed this class and even though I was interested in the subject material before taking the class, Professor Cline made all of our lectures worthwhile. This was definitely a class that I wanted to go to and never thought once of skipping. Professor Cline knows a great deal about Greek history, is respectful of everyone's opinion, and makes the class fun to attend.

Excellent interdisciplinary knowledge of the material (archaeological, artistic, historic perspectives, etc.) made the class much more interesting.

Great course and great professor. Different lecture style but still effective. Really puts emphasis on attending class. Though this makes it difficult for a student to learn the material if they had to miss a class.

Dr. Cline is my favorite professor at GW! I most certainly intend to take courses with him again, even if they don't count towards my major. The class was amazing and I feel like I have a real interest in a topic that I originally anticipated to be less than fascinating.

Dr. Cline is always great to have. The map quiz was an excellent way to pick up your score, if you needed a little extra boost, and providing extra credit is always appreciated. The exams well reflected what we discussed in class.

I’m sad the class is over.  I loved this course.  Instructor knew what he was talking about, was not boring, and was able to incorporate anecdotes about his own field of study.

Among the finest professors I have encountered in four years at GW, and I have no background in the subject.

I have wanted to take a course with Dr. Cline because I’ve heard such amazing things about him, and he definitely did not disappoint.  I expected engaging lectures above all else and I certainly got what I had hoped for.  I wouldn’t change a thing about this course.  It was completely fascinating and I’m so glad I got to take it.

Dr. Cline has no weaknesses — the man is a superhero!  I will go out of my way to take another course (at least one more) with him.

I learned a lot about the subject and the professor was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable that it made me want to learn more.

The lectures were very interesting and covered the most interesting parts of Greek history.  Because we covered such entertaining people and events, it was easy to study and learn the information.

I really enjoyed the class and will recommend it to others.

The instructor is extremely knowledgeable on the subject and his lectures were very interesting and fun.  He was easy to approach and very friendly as well.

I expected to be introduced to Greek history.  My expectations were indeed met as I feel very confident in my knowledge of the subject.

The major strength was the lecture aspect and the professor.  Never missed a class because of him.  No major weaknesses in my mind.  I wish I could take the class again.

Interesting, charismatic lecturer.  Supplemented material with personal anecdotes.  He is tremendously effective.

The textbook was extremely easy to read and helpful.  I strongly recommend using this book again.

Enthusiastic, knowledgeable.  Encourages student participation and respectful of everyone's opinion.  One of the best teachers I’ve had at GW.

Well taught.  Clear.  Actually learned from the presentations and lectures.

Professor Cline is a great professor and he was the major strength of the course. 

Cline is great at lecturing.  It is clear he knows what he is talking about and enjoys the subject matter.

The lectures were very good and the most interesting part of the course.  Knows a lot about the topic; gives own opinion, but others as well.  Interesting lecturer and keeps one’s attention.

I was able to learn a huge amount although I knew little about Greek history before.  He was a great lecturer.  Classes were very interesting.

This was a great class.  It was light-hearted and enjoyable but you still feel like you are learning a lot.  Cline is very clear and realistic about his expectations from his students.  He understands that we have other classes and so he doesn’t overwork us.  However, this class is not an easy A.  It’s a good balance.

Clearly had his own views, but would consider and accept other interpretations if they were well-supported.

The primary text was fantastic.  Clearly written, concise, and approachable. The class was larger in population that I would have liked, but it’s such a popular class that I understand this is the best way to do it. 

Fantastic, knowledgeable, intelligent, and a great personality.  Extremely effective teaching style and the obvious depth and breadth of his understanding was wonderful.

Instructor very good at leading class, made material very easy to understand.  Very engaging lectures, very knowledgeable.  Kept lectures light-hearted and well-run.  Always made class interesting and fun.

Strengths were the professor’s approach to lecture.  Making what could be considered dry material very entertaining and pertinent to present day.

I wanted to learn more about ancient Greece in a class that was interesting yet challenging.  My expectations were met. 

His lectures and availability were major strengths.  He was very knowledgeable.

His lectures and interesting and never boring.  His enthusiasm for the subject is contagious.  He seems to really want students to learn from the course.  He is a great professor!

Discussions and questions were excellent; very thought-provoking and helped point out the significance of the material. 

Professor Cline was great.  Great guy, enthusiastic, and very fair.  Made class enjoyable and testing was fair and actually helpful.

The professor was the main strength.  He was interesting and used fun techniques like debates to keep the class involved.  His strength was in his teaching methods and excitement for the subject.

Clear, well-organized lectures and clear expectations were definite strengths.  A weakness would be the uncanny ability to pick the longest essay questions for the exam — however, the questions do effectively measure how much students know.

His strengths are his extensive expertise and knowledge on the subject and the ease and clarity with which he lectures.  He has no weaknesses. (Wow! That’s a bold statement!)  The content was extensive and was presented in a manner that was easily understandable.

“Professor Cline is certainly one of the best teachers I have had while at GW.  His knowledge of the subject and passion for the material make his lectures interesting and always enjoyable.  His use of other media made it better for those liking visuals and he was always accessible.  I honestly cannot say that there were any weaknesses in this course.  It was always interesting and taught very well.  I have nothing to say for improvement and look forward to more classes with Professor Cline.”

“I expected a lot of information and got just that.  I also expected the class to be taught well and interestingly and it definitely was.  The strengths were the excellent lectures by the professor and his incredible knowledge of the subject.”

“Strengths: The professor's knowledge and love of the topic — when he is enthused, the class becomes so much more interesting.  He also always was concerned if the class understood the lectures or had questions, and made students think rather than just putting the info out there.  Professor Cline does an excellent job in the classroom.  It's refreshing to find a Prof. that enjoys teaching as much as him — [it] makes students enjoy what they are learning.”

“Non-stop Rock N' Roll with extra Greekness. A monster truck extravaganza of mind-smashing Hellenic destruction/construction. Much more fun than 2.5 chimps. More fun than cocaine. More fun than sex. I want Greece again and again.”

“FABULOUS lecturer – very funny, very engaging, very interesting…clearly has a lot of respect for students and loves to teach!”

“Dr. Cline is truly an excellent professor.  His lectures are almost always engaging to the class and his style of teaching presents the material in a clear and interesting way.”

“Prof. Cline is by far one of the best profs this university has.  He is approachable and unbelievably knowledgeable about his subjects.  This man deserves a raise!  Unless he takes everyone on a trip to Greece (not likely), there are few improvements to the class or the professor.”

“Dr. Cline was a major strength.  He was enthusiastic and made me want to learn the course material. … I actually decided to declare a major in archaeology because of his enthusiasm – made me want to learn.”

“Some might complain [that] he grades hard, but they’re just not prepared.”

“Lectures were organized well and easy to follow.  They did a good job of supplementing the reading.  One of the best professors I’ve had.  I intend to take more classes with him.”

“Definitely an encyclopedia of information; well organized and confident.  Not too much room for improvement.”

“Able to keep the class’s attention with easy going and yet knowledgeable manner.”

“Cline was the major strength [of the course].”

“Professor kept the class entertaining with many anecdotes.”

“Strengths: straightforwardness, interesting.  No weaknesses.”

“Enjoyable; knowledgeable; interesting.”

“This class was amazing.  Professor Cline rules.  I learned so much about the ancient world.”

“Thorough survey of Greek history.”

“He’s great!  Never thought Greek history could be so interesting!”

“The professor was a great instructor; he had an extensive knowledge of the material.”

“It was [a] very difficult [course] to get into; I would make it larger and open to more students next time.”

“Very interesting, engaging, and helpful.”

“We covered more ancient history than I expected and more archaeology, but these turned out to be my favorite parts of the course.”

“Strengths: instructor’s enthusiasm and eagerness to explain why we know things.”

“This was my favorite class.  The lectures were incredible.”

“The course was fabulous.  The instructor was a great lecturer, very interesting.”

“He couldn’t have been more effective.  He is one of the best instructors I’ve ever had.”

“He is a great lecturer who makes sitting through an hour and 15 [minute] class easy.”

“Very interesting and engaging; humorous.  One of the best history professors I’ve had.”

“Very friendly and approachable.”

“I took this class as an elective because I enjoy ancient history and I thoroughly enjoyed the class.”

“I expected it would be interesting and challenging.  It definitely met this expectation.”

“The lectures and tests were great.  No real weaknesses.”

“I wouldn’t [change the course].  It was amazing.”

“He’s a great lecturer and knows so much about the subject matter.  He’s very approachable.”

“He’s my favorite professor.”

“No weaknesses.  Made the lecture material very compelling.”

“Drink ginger ale, less Coke!”

“He is an excellent lecturer and very approachable and knowledgeable.”

“I expected to learn a basic history of Greece.  I did not expect the section on the Minoans and Mycenaeans, but it was very interesting and relevant.  Overall, this course was outstanding.”

“Great presentations; interesting slides; full of fascinating trivia.”

“The course was excellent.  There is no way to improve it; it was excellent.”

“Very clear in speech, good sense of humor, and always interesting.”

“The class was great.  I’m sad it’s over.”

“Good at lecture.  Made material interesting, presented it well.”

“Very easy to listen to; keeps my attention.”

“Highly interested in material; well educated; interesting.”

“The content was really significant and professor was really knowledgeable and had direct experience.  Visuals were exceptional.”

“I was expecting to learn about the Hellenistic Period.  We learned that and a lot more.”

“The professor knew what he was talking about and admitted when he wasn’t sure about an answer to a student’s question.  He was passionate about the subject and taught in a style that made the subject interesting.”

“Teacher is an amazing lecturer; brings material to life.”

“Best lecturer I’ve had at GW.”

“Expected fun, comprehensive class on ancient Greek history; got it; not surprised.”

“Great use of visuals; always approachable outside of class; still able to involve students and have discussions despite such a large class.”

“Prof. Cline was a great teacher and made lecture very interesting.  I don’t think there were any weaknesses.”

“This class was wonderful.  I feel like I have an excellent background on Greek history having taken this course.”

“Professor Cline is an amazing teacher.  He makes me want to be a history major.”

“I had expected to take a class in Classical Greek history, but instead found it to be a broader view of Greek civilization.  While surprised, I certainly was not disappointed.”

“The lectures were awesome.  Professor Cline knows how to keep things interesting.”

“As always, Dr. Cline was great.”

“Teaches history as a story, an interesting one at that.  Connects history/culture to modern world.”

“The professor kept everyone’s attention and made the subject interesting.  He even tried to change things up with videos, slides, and overheads.”

“It was challenging but very interesting.  I was afraid that the course could be boring because I was used to taking mythology which I like, but surprisingly this was as interesting if not more.”

“My expectations were to learn about ancient Greek history and these were met beyond my expectations.”

“Excellent lecturer; vast knowledge of subject; good use of visual aids; engaging subjects.”

“He is THE man.”

“Excellent speaker.  Lectures were well organized and insightful…”

“Extremely interesting/exciting; lectures were enjoyable; tests were more appropriate to course material than in any other class I have taken at The George Washington University.”

“Excellent classroom presentations; very accessible to students.”

“It's an awesome class; don't change it.  I like all the multi-media; [it's] not just a lecture, but so much more.”

“Great material; great visual presentations; Teacher looks very Greek, can picture him as Lycurgus, Socrates, etc, etc, etc.”

“Helpful, open instructor — wanted class to participate in discussion and ask questions — made lecture format more interesting.”

“The course did not just focus on names, dates and politics, but also [on] philosophy, archaeology, and debated issues.”

“The professor made the course fun and enjoyable.  This course could have been a real drag but he made it come to life.”

“A lot of material was covered over the semester — in spite of this, I never felt overwhelmed.  As a result, I think I was able to learn a lot.”

“The most positive aspect of this course is Dr. Cline; he's a great lecturer and a very helpful person.”

“Dr. Cline's knowledge of the course material was immensely helpful.  He could answer most any question, or put us in the right direction to find the answer.  Lectures were clear and very organized, tests were fair, but comprehensive.”

“The whole class was fascinating.  Readings were interesting — lecture supplemented by slides and videos was also helpful.”

“Dr. Cline knows what he's talking about.  He's entertaining and makes the material fun to learn instead of boring.”

“The only problem with Cline's classes is the lack of enough seating for everyone.  Scheduling gods: buy more desks!”

“Professor is enthusiastic about the material, brings humorous items to students' attention.”

“The presentation of the material made it easy to learn and was enjoyable.”

“Interesting material.  Great Prof.”

“Knowledgeable, passionate, articulate professor.”

“Dr. Cline teaches the course in an extremely well organized and interesting fashion.  He continues to be one of my favorite professors and I look forward to taking future classes with him.”

“Dr. Cline is a great Professor. This class is very interesting. I look forward to taking more classes with him. Very, very highly recommended.”

“Dr. Cline is an amazing Professor. He knows the material so well and he makes it entertaining. His lectures are enjoyable and he facilitates an interest in ancient history.”

“Excellent course. Gives great foundation in western civilizations. Highly recommend any course taught by Cline, as have taken two with him (both excellent).”

“Excellent Professor, highly energetic and informative. Provides thorough explanation of history which corresponds to several theories. Highly recommend Professor Cline.”

“Dr. Cline is the best, not only is he personally knowledgeable about the subject, but he is familiar with other scholars and is able to talk about them with personal experience. It helps a student feel more attached to their studies.”

“Good class, very interesting funny guy keeps class awake.”

“Great class. Interesting…gives good information. Professor is really nice and also helpful.”

“He's very friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the information.”

“If you are interested in ancient history definitely, take this course. Professor Cline did an excellent job teaching and made the material interesting.”

“One of the best history professors I have had at GWU.”

“Professor Cline is always enthusiastic and enjoys teaching class is always fun and interesting. Makes you enjoy learning.”

“Professor Cline is by far the best Professor I've had in my 4 years at GWU. He's accessible, enthusiastic, and most of all, fair. I highly recommend this class.”

“Take it. Go to class, enjoy.”

“The course was fun and interesting. The most important part to do in this course is to take notes and come to class. The book was easy to read also.”

“The Professor is very knowledgeable and engaging. His passion about subjects permeates the classroom.”

“Very good Professor, knows what he is talking about, you want to go to class.”

“Very intense and insightful class, take it only if you seriously want to learn about Greek History.”

“Sit back, relax, and enjoy.”

“An excellent class.”

“Best history prof of all time!”

 “A very enjoyable and great course.” 

“Same as Egypt class, Cline is both energetic and erudite. The class was exceptionally interesting and well worth the wait.”

“I really enjoyed this class. I feel I learned a lot and the lectures were very captivating.”

“This was my favorite class this semester.” 

“I think that Dr. Cline is very knowledgeable about the subject. He obviously enjoys it, and conveys that in his lectures. ”

“Cline tries to be innovative with slides, overheads, videos, and classroom exercises that encourage discussion, speculation.” 

“Great professor.”

“Phenomenal professor; welcome change from last semester's History of Rome professor.” 

“Very knowledgeable; good speaker.”